Sports

Owatonna’s Kodey Kiel makes a throw to first base during Friday night’s game between the South All-Stars and the Metro East All-Star during the opening round of the Play Ball! MN High School Baseball All-Star Series at Chaska Athletic Park in Chaska. Kiel and the South All-Stars went 2-1 on the weekend, falling in the championship game.

PLAY BALL!

CHASKA – For Owatonna senior Kodey Kiel, baseball has been a key part of his time as a Husky. It also will be a key part of his future after committing to play baseball at St. Mary’s University. However, before he shelves the silver and blue of Owatonna for the red and black of the Cardinal, there...

Blooming Prairie senior Tommy Braaten watches his shot during Day 2 action in the Class A state golf tournament. Braaten captured the state title after finishing the tournament 10 strokes ahead of the . second place finisher . (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

'It's a dream come true': Blooming Prairie's Tommy Braaten wins Class A state golf title

Becker – It was a storybook ending for Blooming Prairie’s Tommy Braaten. On the final hole of Day 2 action at the Class A state boys golf tournament, the Blossoms’ senior was just over 100 yards from the pin. With a gentle, yet decisive swing, he managed to drop his shot within five feet of the pin...

Blooming Prairie senior Tommy Braaten watches his shot during Day 1 action in the Class A state golf tournament. Braaten sits atop the leaderboard after firing a school record 68. (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

Braaten fires school record 68 to steal show on Day 1 of Class A state golf

Becker – For the Blooming Prairie boys golf team, senior Tommy Braaten has been the catalyst all season long. During Day 1 action of the Class A state tournament, Braaten was simply on another level. Shooting a 68 for the day, the Blossoms’ senior not only sits atop the leaderboard heading into the...

Blooming Prairie's Sam Wurst leaps to clear the 4-10 mark in the opening jumps of the Class A girls high jump final Friday at Hamline University. (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

Fuel for the future

St. Paul – After suffering a cervical sprain from a car accident before the start of the season, Blooming Prairie High School junior Samantha Wurst didn’t even think she would be able to compete in the high jump this season. Not only did she compete, but she soared. After earning a qualification to...

Owatonna's Braydon Kubat turns down the back stretch for the lap in the Class AA 3200-meter run final on Friday at Hamline University. Kubat finished 15th (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

Kubat finishes 15th in Class AA 3200-meter run finals

St. Paul – In the lone final event that took place on the scorching track Friday afternoon, Owatonna senior Braydon Kubat found himself in a fast field and simply couldn’t get loose. After being last for much of the final 100 meters in Friday’s 3200—meter run, the Owatonna senior made one last push...

Dalton Kubista prepares for his landing during the first flight in the Class AA state triple jump event on the campus of Hamline University Friday. Kubista took ninth in the event. (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

Kubista makes the podium, places 9th in Class AA triple jump

St. Paul – Heading into Friday’s triple jump at the 2017 Class AA Minnesota State Track and Field meet, Owatonna junior Dalton Kubista knew that if he stuck to his routine, there was a good chance that he would land on the podium. Despite temperatures reached the upper 80s, there were no...

Medford's Luke Johnston practices throwing the discus Wednesday morning at Medford High School. In his first year in the wheelchair division, the sophomore has qualified for the shot put and discus after winning Section 1-A titles. (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

The Lone Tiger

For Luke Johnston, every day is about embracing the challenge that life presents in front of you with an open mind. Despite having a tragic life event that would nearly kill the competitive drive of most, he has continued to show up to practice and work for nearly the last three years at the shot...

Members of the Blooming Prairie boys golf team, along with BP golfer Taylor Christianson, ride on the top of a BP fire truck down Main Street after the boys' team won their second straight Section 1-A title on Monday in Rochester. (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

Blooming Prairie boys golf wins second straight Section 1A title

Rochester - After finishing atop of the leaderboard on Day 1 of the Section 1-A tournament, the Blooming Prairie High School boys golf team was the team to beat Monday at Willow Creek Golf Course. However, the Blossoms had their sights set on going back-to-back. Finishing with a two-day total of...

Medford's Willie VonRuden throws a pitch during the Tigers' 5-4 comeback win over Maple River Thursday in Minnesota Lake in a Section 2-AA elimination game. VonRuden picked up the win after tossing five 2/3 innings where he allowed just three runs. (SCT/Josh Zimmer)

Tigers stay alive in Section 2-AA tournament

Minnesota Lake – After being dealt a 10-0 thumping by Kenyon-Wanamingo on Tuesday, the Medford High School baseball team was on the verge of elimination after falling into an early 3-0 deficit to Maple River on Thursday. Then Willie VonRuden started to find his rhythm and seemed to jolt some life...

COLUMN: Never forget those who fought for you

This week’s column is going to be just slightly different than the usual sports columns I have written in the past. Instead of going back and attempting to somehow tie my personal experiences from my playing and coaching days or even now as a sports journalist, I’m going to take an approach that...